Apple's recent update of its 13-inch MacBook line was a modest one, with an incremental processor upgrade and updated default components. However, the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro laptops have gotten a much more radical overhauling, even if they -- like the MacBooks -- look the same on the outside as previous generation models.

We have reviewed the 15-inch, 2.4GHz middle child in the MacBook family, which costs AU$3,599. The entry-level 15-inch, 2.2GHz model starts at AU$2,899 and the 17-inch, 2.4GHz model sells for AU$3,999.

Design
Physically, the refreshed MacBook Pro is essentially identical to the version we looked at late last year. We refer you to our review of the Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.33GHz) for a detailed take on Apple's excellent industrial design and attention to detail.

The minimalist layout -- you'll find only a power button, a full-size keyboard, stereo speakers, a sizable touchpad with a single mouse button and a built-in iSight camera -- remains a standard other laptop designers should emulate, and the thin chassis makes it easy to stow the system in even smaller laptop bags.

On the other hand, despite our love for a clean look, we've become used to having at least a few media control shortcut keys -- and adding a media card reader wouldn't deface the otherwise minimalist look.

Features
Aside from faster processors and a new chipset, more memory and larger hard drives, the big change to the 15-inch MacBook Pro is its LED-backlit display, similar to those making their way into new Sony and Toshiba laptops.

Apple doesn't claim any difference in image quality or screen brightness -- the new screens feature the same 1,440x900 pixel native resolution as that of the previous 15-inch models -- and based on anecdotal observation, we'd agree. Instead, Apple touts the new display's energy efficiency and being mercury-free, and our battery drain tests show a marked improvement to battery life.

Apple hasn't added any ports or connections with this new model, but the laptop's 802.11n Wi-Fi capabilities are now turned on by default, rather than requiring a downloaded patch to unlock. It's also the only laptop we can think of with a FireWire 800 jack (along with the more common FireWire 400), useful for digital video fans.

We're still not fans of Apple's nearly obligatory extended warranty up-sell. The default warranty for the MacBook is one year of coverage for parts and labour, but complimentary support is limited to a mere 90 days -- well short of what you'd typically find on the PC side -- unless you purchase the AU$419 AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends phone support and repair coverage to three years.

Performance
Moving to Intel's latest 2.4GHz mobile Core 2 Duo CPU -- part of the new Centrino Duo platform -- means the MacBook Pro's performance can stand up to that of the latest Windows Vista laptops, and the new LED-backlit display on the 15-inch model is more power efficient than traditional LCD displays, resulting in better battery life.

'Quake 4' performance (in frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

1,024x768, 4xAA 8xAF

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz

65

Sony Vaio VGN-FZ180E

50.1

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.3GHz

42.1

HP Pavilion dv6500t

23.8

Compared to other recent 15-inch media-friendly laptops, the MacBook Pro performs well, beating the HP Pavilion dv6500t and the Sony VAIO FZ180 in our Multitasking and iTunes encoding tests. It was also faster than last year's MacBook Pro, although the margins were not very significant, reinforcing our view that Intel's revamped Centrino Duo platform, while valuable, hasn't translated into significantly better performance.

Compared with the recently updated non-Pro MacBook, the Pro gives us a decent boost in performance, but unless you need the Pro's vastly superior video abilities, you might be able to save a few quid and go with the 13-inch model.

The new Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card, however, was a vast improvement over the ATI Mobility Radeon x1600 featured on last year's models. Running Quake 4 at 1,024x768 pixels, with anti-aliasing turned on, we got 65 frames per second from the updated Pro, while only about 42fps from the 2006 MacBook Pro.

Perhaps the biggest improvement in the revamped MacBook Pro is in battery life. Thanks to the LED-backlit display (and partially to Intel's energy-efficient Centrino Pro platform), we got an impressive three hours and 35 minutes with our DVD battery drain test -- that's 36 minutes more than the non-LED version of the MacBook Pro. Bear in mind the DVD battery drain test is especially gruelling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and typical office use.

Conclusion
Despite its high price, the MacBook Pro makes a strong case by keeping its components on the cutting edge, especially because Apple has bumped up the specs without raising the price.

By upgrading to the latest Intel platform and Nvidia graphics for better performance, adding a new screen tech for better battery life, and keeping the same great design and same starting prices, the MacBook Pro puts enough distance between itself and the lower-end MacBook.

System configurations:

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
OS X 10.4.8; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.3GHz
OS X 10.4.8; 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600; 3072MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon x1600; 150GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

HP Pavilion dv6500t
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM; 128MB Nvidia 8400M GS; 200GB Toshiba 4,200rpm

Sony Vaio FZ180
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GT; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm